Writing • Stroke Types
Chinese Strokes — Part 2
Compound Strokes
Beyond the 8 basic strokes, Chinese writing uses compound strokes — combinations of two or three basic strokes written in a single continuous motion without lifting the brush. These compound strokes are counted as one stroke in a character's total stroke count.
Important: Compound strokes are written as a single continuous motion — never lift the brush or pen between the component parts. Each compound stroke counts as exactly 1 stroke in the total stroke count.
Begin with a horizontal stroke moving right, then at the corner make a sharp 90° downward turn and continue straight down. This is written in one continuous motion — do not lift the brush. The turn creates the top-right corner of box-shaped characters.
How to write it — step by step:
- Start with a small press at the left.
- Stroke right horizontally (héng).
- At the corner, apply slight pressure and turn sharply downward.
- Descend straight as a vertical stroke.
Example characters:
口 — kǒu
The top of 口 uses 横折 to form the top + right side.
日 — rì
Both 口-like components in 日 use 横折 at the top-right.
国 — guó
The outer frame of 国 begins with 横折 for top + right side.
Descend vertically, then at the bottom turn sharply to the right and continue horizontally. The resulting shape is like the bottom-left corner of a box or an inverted 'L'. Written in one stroke without lifting.
How to write it — step by step:
- Begin with a downward vertical stroke (shù).
- At the bottom, apply slight pressure.
- Turn sharply to the right.
- Continue horizontally to the right.
Example characters:
山 — shān
The outer strokes of 山 use 竖折 at the bottom corners.
已 — yǐ
The main body of 已 begins with a vertical then turns right.
区 — qū
The outer frame of 区 uses 竖折 for the left+bottom.
Begin horizontally moving right, then turn and sweep down-left in a left-falling (piě) stroke. The angle of the piě portion is typically around 45°. This is a common compound stroke in the right side of characters.
How to write it — step by step:
- Stroke right horizontally.
- At the turning point, shift direction sharply.
- Sweep down-left in a piě motion.
- End in a fine point at the lower-left.
Example characters:
又 — yòu
The first stroke of 又 is a 横撇 — horizontal then sweep down-left.
发 — fā
The upper component of 发 includes a 横撇.
反 — fǎn
The top stroke of 反 is 横撇 before the right-falling stroke.
Begin with a left-falling stroke heading down-left, then at the bottom make a sharp turn and sweep up-right. This creates a shallow 'V' shape or a rising exit. Common in characters with the 女 component.
How to write it — step by step:
- Begin the left-falling piě stroke heading down-left.
- Near the end, instead of lifting, apply pressure.
- Turn sharply and sweep to the upper-right.
- Taper to a fine point as you rise.
Example characters:
么 — me
The lower component of 么 is 撇折 — down-left then sweep right.
女 — nǚ
The first stroke of 女 is 撇折 — the sweeping bottom stroke.
妈 — mā
The 女 radical on the left uses 撇折 as its base stroke.
This is an extension of 横折 — after the downward vertical portion, add a sharp upward hook (gōu) flicking left. The hook is small and decisive. This compound stroke is extremely common in everyday characters.
How to write it — step by step:
- Stroke right horizontally.
- Turn sharply at the corner and descend.
- Near the end of the vertical portion, slow down.
- Flick sharply upward-left to form the hook.
Example characters:
月 — yuè
The left side of 月 uses 横折钩 — the frame with a hook at the bottom-left.
用 — yòng
The outer structure of 用 includes 横折钩 on the left.
同 — tóng
The outer frame of 同 uses 横折钩.
A straight vertical stroke ending with a sharp upward-left flick. The hook is a sudden change of direction — not a curve or gradual bend. The vertical body of the stroke is the main element; the hook is a small finishing detail.
How to write it — step by step:
- Descend straight vertically.
- Near the bottom, slow and apply slight pressure.
- Flick abruptly upward-left to form the hook.
- End in a fine point.
Example characters:
寸 — cùn
The main vertical of 寸 ends in a 竖钩.
小 — xiǎo
The central stroke of 小 is a 竖钩 — vertical then upward hook.
村 — cūn
The 寸 component on the right carries a 竖钩.
Descend vertically, then curve smoothly to the right, and end with a sharp upward hook. Unlike 竖折 (which has a sharp corner), the turn here is a smooth bend. This creates the fluid 'J' shape seen in characters like 也 and 心.
How to write it — step by step:
- Descend straight for a short distance.
- Gradually curve to the right — no sharp corner.
- Continue rightward along the bottom.
- Flick upward sharply to form the hook.
Example characters:
心 — xīn
The rightmost stroke of 心 is 竖弯钩 — the sweeping curved base with hook.
也 — yě
The final stroke of 也 is a large 竖弯钩 sweeping right.
忙 — máng
The 心 radical on the left uses 竖弯钩 as its base.
The 卧钩 is a flattened arc — it curves from the left, descends slightly, sweeps rightward in a low arc, and ends with an upward hook. Unlike 竖弯钩 which starts vertically, 卧钩 moves primarily horizontally. It sits flat like a reclining stroke (hence 卧 = lying down).
How to write it — step by step:
- Begin at the top-left with a slight downward angle.
- Curve smoothly in a low arc moving right.
- Maintain the arc — do not flatten into a horizontal.
- At the end, flick upward sharply to complete the hook.
Example characters:
心 — xīn
The second stroke of 心 is 卧钩 — the low curved stroke in the middle.
必 — bì
The main diagonal body of 必 contains a 卧钩 component.
忍 — rěn
The 心 component at the bottom of 忍 includes the 卧钩.
Quick Reference — All 8 Compound Strokes
Video Lesson
Video: Learn Chinese Character: Xin (Heart) — Millie Mandarin by Millie Mandarin — licensed under CC BY 4.0